June 19, 2008

Eagles Brought to Center from King George, Rockingham Counties

Two Bald Eagles have been admitted this week to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, an internationally acclaimed teaching and research hospital for wildlife and conservation medicine located in Waynesboro.

This brings to 16 the total number of Bald Eagles admitted to the Center during 2008. [During 2007, the Center admitted a total of 36 Bald Eagles - a single-year record in the Center's 25-year history].

The two eagles admitted this week are:

Eagle 08-1254

[+] enlarge

This adult male Bald Eagle was admitted on June 16, 2008 from King George County and was assigned Patient Number 08-1254. [Animals admitted to the Center are given sequential patient numbers - in the order in which they are admitted. Patient 08-1254 was the 1,254th patient admitted during 2008]. The bird was first observed, unable to fly, on June 15 and was captured on June 16.

On initial presentation, the eagle was depressed, was in good body condition, but had a slight right-sided wing droop. No fractures or muscle damage were observed, and the obvious cause of injury could not be determined. Blood work indicated that the bird did not have an infection but had low blood protein levels, indicating either that it had not eaten in some time or that there is potential liver damage. An eye exam showed no significant lesions to the retina. A blood sample was taken from this patient and tested for blood lead levels, which proved to be within normal limits for the species. A second blood sample was taken and sent to an outside diagnostic laboratory to test for levels of organophosphates/pesticides – a common cause of morbidity in birds of prey in Virginia.

Presently, the eagle is gaining strength with supportive care [fluid therapy and tube feeding]. The Center’s vet staff will continue to provide supportive care and conduct further tests to pinpoint the eagle’s problem and potential treatment.
Eagle 08-1259

[+] enlarge

This young Bald Eagle [hatched this spring] was admitted on June 17 from Rockingham County. The bird weighed in at 4.41kg [about 9.7 pounds] and, based on its large size, is likely a female. The bird was found on the Merck property north of Highway 340 near a chain-link fence [Merck employees have been watching this eagle since it hatched and have nicknamed it "Jerry"]. The eagle was captured by biologists from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and brought to the Wildlife Center.

At admission, the Bald Eagle was drooping its left wing but was standing in the carrier. On physical examination, the bird was fairly dull but in good body condition; had a fractured clavicle and coracoid bone; and had a charred area of feathers and skin on the tip of the right wing. The bird also had blood coming from its trachea. Based on the clinical signs and the fresh nature of all wounds, Center vets surmise that the eagle came into contact with a power line or another form of electrical wiring, and broke its bones when it hit the ground.

The Wildlife Center veterinary staff has taken x-rays of the bird, performed a blood lead test (which was negative), and examined the blood for infection and indications of organ damage. The eagle is currently receiving supportive care [fluids, anti-pain medications, and anti-inflammatory drugs]. The eagle is being tube-fed twice a day until it is well enough to eat on its own. The bones are expected to heal well with cage rest; veterinary staff is anticipating a release as soon as the bones are stable and the bird is flight-tested.
It is estimated that the Bald Eagle population of North America numbered about half a million before European settlement. With the loss of habitat, shooting, and the effects of DDT and other pesticides, the U.S. eagle population plummeted.

In 1977, there were fewer than 50 Bald Eagle nests in Virginia. Today, the Bald Eagle population in Virginia is on the rebound. There are now more than 500 active Bald Eagle nests in the Commonwealth.

Every year, about 2500 animals – ranging from Bald Eagles to chipmunks – are brought to the Wildlife Center for care. Since its founding in 1982, the nonprofit Center has cared for more than 50,000 wild animals, representing 200 species of native birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The Center’s 50,000th patient – a Common Loon – was admitted on May 12.

The Center’s public education programs share insights gained through the care of injured and orphaned wildlife, in hopes of reducing human damage to wildlife. The Center trains veterinary and conservation professionals from all over the world and is actively involved in comprehensive wildlife health studies and the surveillance of emerging diseases.

During 2007, the Center marked its 25th anniversary and received the National Wildlife Federation’s prestigious National Conservation Achievement Award for exemplary leadership in conserving wildlife and connecting people with nature. Additional information about the Wildlife Center is available at www.wildlifecenter.org.